Machine for printing labels directly on buckets.



A. S. IVIOSES.- MA-CHIIIE FOR PRINTING LABELS DIRECTLY 0N BUCKETS.

. APPLICATION FAILED MAR. I2 i913. 1,92%?563 Pateme Nov. 20, 1917.

4 SHEETSSHEET I.

w a w M M A.ls. Moses. MACHl-NE FDR PRINTING LABELS DIRECTLY 0N BUCKETS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I2. 19,13. Lmp. Patented Nom-20, 191?.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2y A. S. MOSES. MACHINE ma Iminimun LABELS DIRECTLY 0N Bucms.

APPLICATIN FILED MAK-12| 1913A Patante Nov. 2O 1915i.

is SHEETS-SHEET 3.

AI s.- MOSES.

y MACHINE FOR PRINTING LABELS DIRECTLY 0N ucKEs. 4c-T556@ 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4'.

APPLICATIQN FILED MAR. I2' |913.

Patented NOV. 20, 191K'.

A-SHELEIGI-I S. MOSES, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL LEAD COM- PANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION 0F NEW JERSEY.

MACHINE FOR PRINTING LABELS DIRECTLY ON BUCKETS. j u

` a citizen of the United States, and `residing at St. Louis, in the Statel of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Printing Labels Directly on Buckets, of which the following is a specification. This invention relates to multi-color printing presses and more particularly to printing presses adapted to prlnt in different colors on cylindrical articles such as buckets and the like.

One of the objects of this invention is to construct a machine in which the article to be printed is supported on a platen Ormandrel4 which rotates with printing cylinders arranged in spaced relation circumferentially around the platen or mandrel.

Another object is to construct a machine in which the article can be quickly placed into and removed out of position, and in which correcty register of the colors is insured. p

Another object is to provide novel inking mechanism which is simple in construction, capable of adjustment, accessible, and which will distribute and apply the ink uniformly.

- Another object is to provide a machine which is simple in its construction and Voperation, cheap to manufacture, and further objects will appear from the detail description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan of a machine embodying this invention,

` Fig. 2 is a front elevation, Y-

Fig. 3 is a partial side elevation of one of the printingcylinders and its ink supplying means, the view being taken looking'in Vthe direction of the arrow 3 Fig. `1,

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 4 Fig. 1, Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 Fig. 1, Fig. 6 is a detail ysection on the line 6-6 Fig. 2,

Fig. 7 is a Section on the line 7-7 Fig. 3, F ig. 8 is a partial section on the line 8 Fig. 3, Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9-9 Figs. 2 and 6, and

Fig. 10 is a front elevation of a bucket.

In the machine embodying this invention the article to be printed, such as a bucket, is supported on a platen or mandrel. 'Around this mandrel are arranged a number Specification of Letters Patent.

`Patented Nov. 20, 1917.

Application led March 12, 1913.. Serial N o. 753,750.

of printing cylinders which are geared to and rotatewith the mandrel."` The machine is entirely automatic in its operation Aso that when the bucket is placed onthe mandrel and the machine is started the printing cylinders will successively engage and print onV the bucket, and after the completion of the printing operation the bucket is automatically discharged from the mandrel. In this particular construction the machine is adapted for printing buckets of tapered construction, the invention can however be einbodied in machines for drical buckets.

Referring now to the accompanying draw- ,ings 10 designates a base plate for supporting the bearings,A brackets, etc. A main drive shaft 11 is supported in bearings 12 and 13 on the base plate and projects beyond the same. A platen or mandrel 14 is -mounted upon and keyed to the projecting end 0f the shaft and this mandrel is of tapered construction as shown. A sleeve 15 surrounds the shaft 11 and this sleeve has keyed thereto a driving pulley 16. The main drive shaft 11 has also keyed thereto a cam block 17. The driving pulley 16 and the drive shaft 11 are arranged to be convnected by means of a clutch generally indicated at 18 and having a treadle operated clutch shifting rod 19. This clutch may be of anysuitable construction but is preferably of the single revolution type, thatlis, so constructed that the shaft will upon d-eprinting plain cylin- "pression of the treadle make a single revolution and then cometo a stop in a predetermined position. Clutches of this type are however well known commercial devices and a detail description is therefore unnecessary.

A pair of shafts 2O are mounted in brackets 21 and 22 adjustably mounted on the base plate by means of screws 23 passing through slots in the brackets and tapped into the base plate. Adjusting screws 24 mounted in lugs 25 on the base plate and engaging the brackets are provided for adjusting the brackets and the shafts laterally on the'base plate. Each of the shafts 2O is provided with a reduced portion 26 adapted to receive a printing cylinder 27 of segmental form which is clamped in position on the shaft by means of a nut 28. Each of these cylinders is provided with a printing surface 29 of rubber or other suitable material and having printing' characters there; on. The shafts 20 are driven from' the main drive shaft. 11 by means of gears 30 keyed to the shafts v2O and meshing with a. gear 31 keyed to the shaft 11. There the mandrel is of tapered vconustruction the "gears and 31 are bevel gears. In order to brake 4themachine each-ofthe shafts 2O Ais proivided with a friction drum A`32 Lengagedby a friction brake 33. The base plate supports .a pairof heads `410 which overhang the'printing Vcylinders. f These heads `support*the inking 1nechanisms hereinafter described.

i inkinginechanism will vnow bede scribed and since the iiiking mechanisms for the two printing. cylinders are identical only one will be described in detail. 1 'llheiprinting head'lLO is provided with a pairlof side members l1 forming. bearings for the p inking rolls. f :A pair of conipositionfinking rolls .112

`.the side :lmember and having the end thereon slotted v,so that it can be engaged by ascrew driver. or..\other suitable tool. By means o f this construction thev blocks 4:3 vcan be adjusted vertically on the side membersto adjust the rolls 42 toward and from the `printing cylinders. The rolls and blocks `are'retained inf-position by means of latches i8 pivoted `on screws 49 4tapped intothe lugs 47 andl having lugs 50 thereon adapted to engage the yends of the shafts of the .rolls.42.

4Vhen the latches are thrown upioutfof llatching position the inking rollscanvbe readily removed, `while when these latches are in .position asshowny in `Figs. 2 and 3 ,they retain the.rolls in .positionand 'against removal at thesame time permit-ting adjustment of l:the blocksll and therolls carried thereby. The connection between the `blocks andthe screws 4G permits these blocksto,r be removed and replaced. The lug 50 when in position engages the side of the `block 43 while the latch body engages the front of the block to retainit in position. After the latch is in position it may be clamped by its .screw 49. I

pair of plates 51 are secured to theside vmembersllby means of screws 52 and these Vplates support the shaft 53 of abrass distributing roll 5st. The shaft carries a cam head 55 sliding and rotating in .a bearing gaged by theend of a pin 58 threaded .into the bracket. The shafts 58 have each a pulleyl 5 9 driven by belts 60 from a pulley 61 keyed tothe sleeve 15. Guide pulleys62 are ,endwiseo movement while rotating, and in view of the fact that these shafts are driven from the continuously? rotating sleeve 15, the

distributing rolls 54E are continuously rotatedandreciprocated laterally.

composition inkreceiving roll 63 mountedr in "stirrups 64 on the side members il engages with Ithe distributing-roll 1511. i A

`.brass supply roll 65 is mounted .between side 4members 66,pivoted at"` 67 Ona apart. 68 mountedV on the head A0. The part Vv68 fis .formed and beveled as1shownfat69 4 seas .to yform with the side members (S6-and the roll 65 anink fountain. The shaft 7 O of .the roll 65 is driven intermittentlybyzaninter- .mit tent clutch comprising a cylindrical `casing 171 l.secured Qtov the shaft,.. a head*V 72a. `mounted in and movable inthe casingjandv )att-:ached to fan arm.72,zandballs or rolls 7 3 between the casing anidfhead. The arm72is .oscillated through ya frcnnv aw'bell `.crank lever 75 vloosely-rnounted on a shaft 76 supportedin bearing Ylugs 177 y,on-the head 40. Bymeans of ithis construction oscillation of Vrthe bell LAcrank ilever will -ycause aninter` mittent movementof the .roll in a n.clockwise direction- In yordertolregulate the space between the partGS andthe roll 65, so asto regulatethe feed of the ink, the side niembersl66 are arranged for.movement"V on their pivot 67, and these sideV members are adjusted by means. of screws 78 extending Eloosely throughtie side-.members 66. and threaded into the ead 40. ,'lihesprings' 79 -hold the `roll' in adjusted position. i A 4coni- `position transfer roll' 8O` "removably mounted in the, endsofV arms S11-rigidly connected tothe yshaft ,76. Thebellcrank lever 7 5 i is yieldingly .y connected to `the shaft 76 by means'of a coillspijfing 82 onthe shaft connected atene end to .acollar 83 on the .shaft and atl its other end 2to .a--bossSa on the bell crank lever. By means "oflthis construction the shaft 7 6 will bei actuated yieldingly in both directions.f The bell'fcrank levers75 are operated. throughfa cross head `.85"mounted on af slide S6 movingina guide way B7 and .havingacam roll'SS engaging a cam .89 keyedtoi-the shaftfll. The-.cross head-is return-ed by aspringfQQ.

During the upward movement of Vthe' cross head the transfer roll 8O will be thrown `into.A contact with the receivingv-.roll andy since Athis rollv 63v is continuously driven bythe roll 54 the ink will be taken off of the roll .80 and' transferred .to the roll .63. s During the return movement of the cross head and when the partsare moving in the directionof the arrows Figs. 5 and 7 the transfer. roll 80 will be `thrown intoengagement with the supply Uroll 65, and since the movement takes .place through the. spring .82 the engagement *.b'ei also provided `for thei'belts 60 to vsustain them laterally. By means of this construc- .tion the shafts 53v are' vrotated and given an ilo tween the rolls 80 and 65 will be a yielding one. During the return or downward movement Vof the cross head the arm 7 2 and the clutch connection between this arm and the roll will cause this roll to be moved in the direction of the arrow Fig. 7 to present the inked portion of the roll to the transfer roll 8,0. The transfer roll moves into engagementwith the supply roll 65 While the latter is rotating, and in view of the fact that the yielding connection between the bell crank 75 and the shaft 76 causes the rolls 80 and 65 to be in engagement for some time While the roll G5 is still moving in the ldirection of the arrow Fig. 7, the ink will be transferred from the roll 65 to the roll S0.

The mandrel is recessed as shown at 91 `to receive a plate 92 mounted on an endwise `movable shaft 93 `which has a head 94 on the end thereof. A spring 95 on the shaft 93 between the head 94 and the shaft l1 normally tends to throw the plate 91 to retracted position in the recess 91. A two armed lever pivoted at 96 on the base plate 10 has one arm 97 thereof bearing against the head 94. and the other arm 98 is Provided with a cam roll 99 working in a cam groove 100 in the cam head 17. The plate 92 has an aperture 101 therein to permit escape of the air. The mandrel is provided with a notched positioning finger 102 adapted to engage the bail holder 103 of the bucket 104. The purpose Aof this finger is to position the bucket onthe mandrel and retain it against rotation thereon.

Fig. 10 shows a printed bucket. The letters have a body of one color and a border of another color. `In the operation of the machine, as hereinafter described, the body of these letters will be printed by one printing cylinder while the border will be printed by the other printing cylinder.

The operation of the machinev is as follows: The ink fountains are supplied with different colored inks so as to print in different colors on the bucket. Priorto placing a bucket on the mandrel the machine is run several revolutions so as to thoroughly 4ink theinking rolls as well as to transfer the inkl to the type on the printing cylinders. As the parts move in the directions of the arrows Fig. 2, and as the printing cylinders pass under the inking rolls 42, the ink will be applied to the type on each cylinder. These inking rolls 42 are supplied with ink as heretofore described. A bucket is now placed on the mandrel and positioned thereon by the positioning `finger 102. the machine is now started by depression of the treadle the drive shaft will make one revolution and come to a stop. During this single revolution of the drive shaft the left printing cylinder will first engage and print on the bucket, (to form for instancepthe l `bodyv of the lett-ers) and thereafter the right Ify will be operated near the end of the revolution so that it will be thrown out and withdrawn again when the machine comes to a stop, whereby the machineV when stopped will be in condition to receive another bucket. During this revolution of the Ymachine the type have been inked, and the supply, transfer and the distributing rolls have been operated to supply ink to the inking rolls 42. While the bucket is in position on the mandrel and while it is engaged by the printing cylinders it is retained thereon by the cylinders, due to the tapered construction of the mandrel. No auxiliary holding means is therefore necessary to 1 hold the bucket onthe mandrel in this tapered construction. The segmental construction of the printing cylinders permits removal of the bucket when these cylinders are out of printing position.

lt will therefore be seen that the machine is entirely automatic in its operation. The arrangement of the printing cylinders circumferentially around the mandrel and the gear connections between these parts results in an accurate operation of the machine. The printing cylinders can be accurately adjusted on their shafts, one with respect to the other to cause an accurate register of the colors. The arrangement of the printing cylindersaround the mandrel permits a design of a series-of colors to be printed on a cylindrical article without complication of the mechanisms. Vhile only two printing cylinders have been shown it will be seen that their number may be varied.`

lt is obvious that `various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit of this invention and it is therefore to be understood that this invention is not to be limited to the specific construction shown and described.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is: i

1. A machine for printing labels directly on buckets, comprising a frame, a mandrel supported for rotation on said frame and constructed and arranged to receive and hold a bucket placed endwise thereover and for rotation therewith, a printing cylinder mounted for rotation on said frame and having a printing surface adapted to engage and print directly on the curved surface of the bucket on said mandrel, and mechanism positively connecting said man- `drel and said bucket'thereon with said cylinder, adapted to positively cause and insure the engaging surfaces of the bucket and said cylinder to moveat the saine surface speed, said mechanism being adapted to drive said mandrel and said cylinder in i timed relation, substantiallyl as and forfthe purpose setfOrth. i2. A machinevfor printing labels directly on ibuckets, comprising a fraineyatapered mandrel supported for rotation on' said Vframe and constructed and arranged to receive and hold a tapered bucket placedendy wise thereover and for rotation therewith, a

,tapered printing cylinder mounted forrotation on said fraine and having a printing surface adapted toy enga-ge and print directly on the tapered and curved surface ofthe bucket on said mandrel, and Vmechanism aositivel connectino said mandrel and Said -bucket thereon with said cylinder, adapted -fraine and arranged in spaced relation circumferentially `around said mandrel, Isaid i, lcylinders bearing printing surfaces correspondingy respectively ...to @the component ,parts of the label to'be printed,aand :mechanism connecting said mandrel and 4said bucketvthereoii with said cylinders, adapted tofpositively cause andy insure the engaging sunfacesof the bucket and said cylinders to lmove* at the same surface Y speed, 4and eonstructedand arranged to cause said printing surfaces to print successively their respective portionsof the label in registered relation directly on the curved surface of the bucket, said mechanism being adapted to drive said mandrel and said cylinders `for operation in timed relation, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

fl. A machine for printing labels directly on buckets, comprising a frame, a tapered 4 mandrel supported for rotation on said frame and constructedland arranged to refceive andihold a tapered bucket placed end- Awise thereover and for rotation therewith, a Lplurality of tapered printing cylinders mounted for rotation onsaid frame and .bea-ring printing surfaces bearing respectively componentparts ofl the label to be printed, and mechanism connecting said mandrel and said bucket thereon with said cyl- ,indersy adaptedl to positively cause Aand n- ,Surothe .engagingrsurfaoes of the louokotiand said l cylinders, to; Hmove fat thev same surface speed, constructed andi arranged-itc cause said ,printing surfaces to print succes- -Isivelytheir respective portions ofthe label in registered relation di-i'ectlypn the tapered and curved surface fof the buokoesaidfmecha anisinA beilg ,adapted to Adrive, saidniandrel g and said cylinders `in l timed irelatiom n substantially n as and for the purpose set forth.

5; Ina printingpress, l the combination with aiotary vmand-rol :foilmodito itliwithn andsupport, a bucket, of a plurality ,of ,printing a iniembors amounted: :adj acont said mandrel in position to print successivelyfand in registeredrelation `'onthe bucket during a single`revoliitioii1cf ,the liktfieighnieans on thefinandrel for, engaging i a. part Yof the abueketiaiicl positively :ho1d-ing1tho-lattor in ,o

predeterinlnedv position on the mandrel, said means comprising a Vfoigkcdmolilber for engaging the tbail-,holder ,of the bucket, where- .zbyfsaid `printing;*members will be, .caused to .print upon` the lfiiicket ina definite predeter- .miiedl relation to itsibail, and :means for ro- ;:tating saidl-niand-rel and operating said z ,printing :members- 6.1111; a machine ztor iiiirintingonf biiokots,

.. thecOmhiIiatQnWith ,a rotary pieton adapt- .,ed to receive andsupport a birckeapof a plug ,rality of printngjcylinders .mounted in g spaced relation circumferentially `around said ,platen land arranged Vtogprint succes sivelyj-andf in :registered relationmon the bucket during a single .revolution of the latter, means .intereonnecting said-E cylinders and platen to mover together, andineans acting automatically at vthe end lof onerevolution ,of the platen to stops-said cylinders `andl .,platen.

.i m. In machine vfor printingon biiokots, the combinationx with a. retaryl-mandrel .adapted toreceive and support aibucket, of

fa. plurality. ofiprinting -cy1ndors mounted inV spaced `relation eircumferentially around said mandrel and-arranged to pi'mt'siiooossiyely and,in, lregistered relationl on the bucket during a singlerevolution ofthe mandreh means interconnectingsaid cylinders and `mandrel;to; move together, and lmeans acting automatically. at -theendv of one revolution ofthe mandrel to ejectthe bucket therefrom. Y A

8, ,In aimachine` for printing on buckets,

.the ,combination with a rotary Wmaiidreh4 'adapted' to receive and Jsupport Y a bucket, of airplurality of printingvcylinders mounted -in spaced relation; circumferentially K around Y said mandrel Vandrarranged to printsuccessively and, *in registered relation on the bucket during a singlevrevolution ofthe .inandrel, means interconnectingisaid cylinders andimandrel to movetogether, means acting autoniat,ica lly at the endof one revolution ofvlthe mandrel ,to ystopsaidgcylindersgl and mandrel, and means operating immediately prior to the action of said stop means to eject the bucket from the mandrel.

9. In a machine for printing on buckets, the combination with a rotary mandrel adapted to receive and support a bucket, of a plurality of printing cylinders mounted in spaced relation circumferentially around said mandrel and arranged to print successively and in registered relation on the bucket during a single revolution of the mandrel, means interconnecting said cylinders and mandrel to move together, means operating t0 eject the bucket at the end of the printing operation, means acting autoa matically to stop said cylinders and mandrel at the end of one revolution of the mandrel, and means operating automatically after each ejecting operation to return the ejecting means to initial position.

10. In a machine for printing on buckets, the combination with a rotary mandrel adapted to receive axially thereover a bucket and support the same, of mechanism adapted to print on the bucket, inking mechanism for said printing mechanism, intermittently operable means for actuating said printing mechanism to print upon the bucket, and means actuated constantly and independently of said intermittent meansfor operating said inking mechanism.

11. In a machine for printing on buckets, the combination with a rotary mandrel adapted to receive and support a bucket, of mechanism adapted to print on the bucket, inking mechanism Jfor said printing mechanism, a driver arranged to drive said inking mechanism constantly and independently of said printing mechanism, and means for intermittently connecting said mandrel and printing mechanism with said driver to effeet the printing operation.

12. In a printing press, the combination with a rotary mandrel adapted to receive and support a bucket, of printing mechanism adapted to print on the bucket, inking mechanism for said printing mechanism, ej ecting mechanism for said bucket, a driver connected to constantly drive said inking mechanism, and means for intermittently connecting said mandrel, printing mechanism and said ejector with said driver.

13. In a printing press, the combination with a rotary mandrel adapted to receive and Copies of this patent may be obtained for driving means with said ejector for operating the latter to remove the bucket at the end of the printing operation.

15. In a printing press, the combination with a rotary mandrel adapted to receive and support a bucket, of printing mechanism driven from said mandrel and adapted to print on the bucket, an ejector mounted axially of said mandrel, a drive shaft `tor said mandrel, and means for operating said ej ector from said drive shaft.

16. In a printing press, the combination with a rotary mandrel adapted to receive and support a bucket, of mechanism adapted to print on the bucket, an ejector movable to engage and remove the bucket from the mandrel, a continuously rotating driving member, and manually controlled means for transmitting motion Jfrom said member to said mandrel and printing mechanism and operating said ejector once for each revolution of the mandrel.

17. In a printing press, the combination with a rotary mandrel adapted to receive axially thereover a bucket and support the same, the outer face of said mandrel being provided with a shallow recess, of an ejector plate adapted to fit in said recess in position to engage the bottom of the bucket and provided with an air escape opening, printing mechanism and means for operating the same to print on the bucket, and means for actuating said ejector plate outwardly to remove the bucket at the end of the printing operation.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ASIIELEIGH S. MUSES. Witnesses B. R. MOORE, O. I-I. GREENE.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

